Feb. 20, 1923 - Jan. 17, 2009

Edmund Lee Durr, 85, of Sweet Home died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City while visiting his brother in Halfway.

Edmund was born in Masontown, Penn., to Edmund Henry Durr and Ruth Elizabeth (Lee) Durr. He was raised in Pennsylvania and as a teen joined the Marine Corps and served in World War II in C Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, Second Marine division. He fought battles on the islands of Tinian, Saipan and Tarawa. Lee was very proud of his military career and spoke of it often.

Upon the completion of his service time, Edmund returned to Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines, but only for a few short years. Some relatives had moved west to Oregon and while visiting them he enjoyed the area so much, he moved here. Edmund worked many years as a millwright for Boise Cascade until his early retirement in the mid-1980s.

Lee had many happy years with first wife, Gene, and second wife, Phyllis.

Retirement meant many happy years for Edmund and his second wife, Phyllis, traveling around in their fifth wheel. They lived in the RV and moved all over Oregon and the southwest. He had particularly fond memories of the 17 years they were camp hosts for a Lake Fork Campground just outside of the Hells Canyon National Recreation area in northeastern Oregon. Besides RVing, Edmund enjoyed hunting mule deer, fishing and cutting wood.

Edmund is survived by daughter Lynda Harding of Albany; stepsons Chris Brewster of Molalla, Walter Brewster of Willamina, and Ronald Jarchow of Independence; grandchildren Tammy, Shawnta, Keri, Joseph, Lyndsey, Hayley, Christopher, Joe and Jenny; and siblings David Durr of Halfway, Naomi Babcock of Sweet Home, Clayton Durr of Bend, and Ruth Cook of Missouri.

A military graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Twin Oaks Cemetery in Albany.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Disabled Veterans, in care of Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.